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An intro to Northern Pike
by Mark Hutchinson
Pike are widely distributed in Ontario. Historically they have not been found in the Haliburton Highlands and the Kawartha Lakes of central Ontario. However, pike are expanding their range and can now be found in the northwestern corner of the Kawarthas.
Take a long piece of strong muscle, add powerful teeth to one end, give it a big appetite and a mean disposition and you have Northern Pike. He believes in equal opportunity: they detest all living things, including themselves. If something goes near it and they can get it in their mouth they will eat it. Even five or six pound bass swimming in pike waters plays Russian Roulette when they think they can swim with the Water Wolves.
In a lake environment pike prefer weedy bays, estuaries and shoals as spring and summer habitat. During cool autumn days pike are most likely to seek deeper water.
Pike are aggressive feeders through spring, summer and fall and continue to be caught through the ice during the winter months. Pike will take just about every kind of live and artificial bait, including very large streamer flies. For trolling or casting try:
- spoons;
- bucktail spinners;
- crankbaits;
- topwater lures;
- spinnerbaits; and,
- buzzbaits.
Live baits include large chubs and shiners.
While out fishing once, I was casting a white spinner bait and hooked a small bass. As I reeled the bass to the boat wondered what the heck an alligator was doing up here in Elliot Lake!. The creature's large jaws opened as it took off like a torpedo with the bass and lure in its mouth. I set the hook again. This was a 33 inch pike. Even while in the net the pike looked at me with angry eyes. Sometimes a pike takes it easy when first hooked and goes berserk when it nears the boat. This particular fish became so irritated when hooked it pulled the bass and one treble hook off the lure and crushed the spinner bait like a walnut.
Different fish strike differently but the water wolf always hits with the vengeance of an oncoming train. Northern Pike are day feeders. If you want to do battle with the Water Wolf bring strong tackle and enough lures. Use a medium stiff five or six foot long rod with a level wind reel holding at least ten to twelve pound test line.
Having fished for Northern Pike for many years, I’ve personally had the most success on 3 types of lures which are the perch or minnow colored 2 3/4 inch crank bait, a white or chartreuse spinner bait or a “devil bait” spoon. The net should be strong enough for salmon or trout. Always use a fish disgorger or needle nose pliers to remove the hook and please NEVER hold a fish by its eyes. This is nothing but an old wives tail as to the best way to hold a pike........if you release it after doing this, it WILL DIE.
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